So people don't think I have tunnel vision about guns and to be clearer about my point, I don't agree with open carry, which is different than concealed carry.

I do think seeing guns in public scares some people and they have rights too. Just because someone has the right to carry a gun doesn't mean someone should be scared by that right. I understand the very sight of guns can cause people anxiety and fear. They have rights and their rights need to be protected also.

Wheekers I don't know the statistics on that either but just from memory hearing about the mass shootings I think you're right. That's part of why I think tougher gun laws won't stop the mass shootings. Outside of a ban and confiscation like Australia has I don't think we can stop or minimize this problem with more strict gun laws alone.

As someone who has been diagnosed with a mental illness, I can tell you how scary it to hear over and over again the link being made between gun violence and mental illness.

I haven't check statistics, but many years ago, when I was an advocate in the field of stigma and mental illness, people with MI were far far mroe likely to be the victim of a crime, rather than its perpetrator.

Are we just going to broad stroke and say that everyone who randomly kills people must be "crazy"? It's easy to spread that around without thinking about it. But killing someone doesn't automatically mean you have a diagnosed MI.

Not all people who have a MI commit violent crimes, and not all people who commit violent crimes have a MI.

I think people look for a scapegoat. It is often a class of people (mentally ill, Muslims, etc.). They want to understand why bad things happen and if they can "identify" the problem, they will support doing something about it.

That said, I sure do not feel you can lump people together as a danger in this way. There are way too many wonderful people in these identified groups.

"I haven't check statistics, but many years ago, when I was an advocate in the field of stigma and mental illness, people with MI were far far mroe likely to be the victim of a crime, rather than its perpetrator."
Etc.

Great article Lynx, thanks. But we so need a scapegoat. We look at religion and blame Muslims. We look at race and blame people from the Middle East. I think blaming people with mental illness is a left-over from the days of possessions and witch hunting.

This country still refuses to acknowledge that mental illness is a biologically based illness, just like diabetes. All you have to do is look at health care coverage, and you'll see the great inequity. I have, for years, been paying out of pocket for my mental health treatment because my insurance plan refuses to cover it. Some years it's been as high as $12K. And so my treatment plan is based on what I can afford, not what I need.

And imagine having an illness that distorts reality, where you're anxious and depressed and hearing screaming voices in your head, and then being confronted with people with guns, who are yelling at you without really comprehending why.

I thought I was missing something, so I’ve read everything I can find. I discussed with my brother who is involved in this from a legal perspective and have come to the conclusion; it is much ado about nothing.

Nothing changed. The only change I see is there will be 200 more ATF agents and $4 million upgrade of NICS system to ensure required functionality... functions.

Did I miss something? Honest, I really don’t see any changes and there seemed to be such a buildup to the speech. Ensuring the NICS system works is something everyone is for, so that’s good but....